Marine propulsion.



PATENTED OUT. 22. 1907.

F. 0. BENNING. MARINE PROPULSION.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 14, 1907.

' INVENTOB FREDRIBK E. .B'ENNING FREDRICK GLIDE BENNING, OF NEZPIQUE, LOUISIANA.

MARINE PROPULSION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 22, 1907.

Application filed February 14, 1907. Serial No. 357,288.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDRICK GLIDE BENNING, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Hayes, in the parish of Calcasieu and State of Louisiana, have invented an Improvement in Marine Propulsion, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improvement in marine propulsion, and consists in certain novel constructions and combinations of parts as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawing, Figure l is a top plan view, and Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of a boat embodying my invention. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the endless propeller and belt and Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of one of the wheels for supporting the same.

As shown, my invention is embodied in a boat having a divided hull, the sections A of which are spaced apart longitudinally at A, the said spaces A receiving the propeller which is shown in the form of an endless belt B passing around wheels G, one of which has its shaft provided with a pulley D, which may receive a belt for the application of power from any suitable engine or source of power.

One of the wheels O has its shaft mounted in bearings in a sliding frame E, which slides in suitable guides on the hull sections and has at its outer end a straining device shown as a bolt F projecting through a block or beam G and receiving a nut H, by turning which the slide frame E may be adjusted to regulate the tension of the belt 13, as will be understood from Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing. The belt B is preferably made of saw steel, usually about six inches wide and about No. 18 gage, and passes around the wheels C,

One of which as before described is driven to communicate motion to the belt as desired. These wheels 0 are of a special construction, as best shown in Fig. 4, and have their rims formed with a narrow bearing surface 0, waved from side to side and producing pockets C at the opposite sides of the wheels adjacent to their rims, for the purpose of freeing any gravel or other similar obstructions that may get upon the belt and which would, if passed between the belt and pulleys, tend to injure such parts, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. In the event of such obstructions getting upon the lower run of the belt, and passing thence to the wheels, they will be dis charged out of the lateral pockets without injury to either the wheels or belts.

The endless belt is provided with blades or paddles 1, preferably of the form best shown in Fig. 3, and consisting of the base wing I riveted at I to the belt B and the outwardly projecting wing I bent at a right angle to the base I, and preferably extended laterally at I beyond the edges of the belt B to increase the bearing surface which operates upon the water.

As will be understood from Fig. 1, the propeller op crates in the space between the sections A of the divided hull, and is made of such length that a considerable number of the blades I will be operating upon the water at all times. The wings I of the blades projecting radially from the belt, may be used to advantage in moving the boat in either direction.

I claim: 7

1. A boat having a divided hull with a space between the sections of the hull, and provided with a propeller op erating between the sections of the hull and comprising an endless belt, blades having base wings secured. to the belt, and radially projecting wings which also extend laterally at their ends beyond the edges of the belt, wheels around which said belt passes, said wheels having at their rims narrow bearing portions extending in waved lines around the wheel and forming discharge pockets at the opposite sides of the wheel adjacent to its periphery. one of said wheels having its shaft provided with a drive pulley, and a slide frame having bearings for one of said wheels, and straining means operating in connection with said slide frame whereby to vary the tension of. the belt, substantially as set forth.

2. A boat having a divided hull with a space between the sections thereof, combined with the propeller operat ing in said space and comprising an endless belt,.blades extending therefrom, and wheels around which said belt passes, said wheels having in their opposite faces adjacent to their peripheries, laterally opening pockets, the pockets opening at one end only at their respective sides of the wheel, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The combination of a boat having a divided hull with a space between the sections thereof, a propeller belt operating in said space and having projecting blades, and wheels around which said belt passes, said wheels having their rims provided with narrow bearing surfaces cxtend ing on waved lines and forming pockets opening laterally and circumferentially on opposite sides of the wheels, at the periphery thereof, substantially as set forth.

4. A propeller having an endless belt and wheels around which the same passes, said wheels having their rims pro- -vided with bearing surfaces extending on waved lines, substantially as set forth.

FREDRICK CLIDE BENNING.

Witnesses s A. P. WINEMAN, D. W. McGnn. 

